Israel Obtaining “fair Amount” of Uranium from Phosphates

Israel is extracting a “fair amount” of uranium needed for atomic research in this country from her own phosphates. Mordecai Ben Tov, Minister for Development, revealed here in connection with the 12-day session in Jerusalem of the 16-member Technical Advisory Board of the Ministry.

Since Israel’s uranium is extracted as a by-product of phosphate production, the process is not uneconomical, he declared. He stressed that the greater the quantity of phosphates mined by Israel, the more uranium it will have available.

The advisory board consists of ten Israeli and six foreign scientists and engineers, headed by Sir Ben Lockspeiser, president of the European Organization for Atomic Research. Its chief point of order at this, the first session since the body was formed, is to establish a priority list for the development of Israel’s mineral resources.